Women and children sit at a coffee shop in a mall in Riyadh. A Saudi restaurant is imposing a wastage fee on customers whoorder excessive food. Restaurant owners say wasting food is against the principles of Islam.

Manama: A Saudi restaurant has been largely praised for charging customers if they leave food on their plates.

Social networks have reported that the restaurant in Dammam, in the Eastern Province, imposed the wastage fee after customers ordered excessive amounts of food and failed to clear their plates.

“People should be made aware of the consequences of wasting food. In fact, those who empty their plates should be offered a voucher for a free meal in the restaurant”-Public commentShare on facebookTweet this

According to the restaurant owners, wasting food is against the values of Islam that associate waste with the devil and against social norms that call upon people to think and behave responsibly.

However, online users said that the fee was a new “religious tax” that could not be condoned.

“Restaurant owners do not have the right to hold to account customers on how much they leave on their plate,” a user wrote, local Arabic daily Al Youm reported.

Sa’ad wrote that the restaurant should be held accountable for high prices.

“Some meals cost little to prepare, yet restaurants charge their customers high sums. This is unfair. This restaurant for instance is abusing people in the name of religion. I just wonder where the food that is not consumed goes.”

For Ahmad, the restaurant is seeking publicity.

Related Links

“The owners could simply take the excess food and offer it to the people who are cleaning the streets or to those who live in the neighbourhood and do not have enough money. These limited income people would be highly delighted with such offers. It is obvious that the restaurant is seeking some publicity,” he wrote.

Abdullah suggested that the customers take the excess food with them.

“The restaurant should provide bags or boxes so that customers take away the food they did not consume with them. That way, there would be no harassment of the customers,” he wrote.

‘Great courage’

However, the restaurant’s food idea was endorsed by several users.

“This is an act of great courage that should be fully supported,” another user wrote. “People should be made aware of the consequences of wasting food. In fact, those who empty their plates should be offered a voucher for a free meal in the restaurant.”

Mohammad welcomed the idea as a good step towards positive thinking.

“Such a move should be emulated by all restaurants because we are turning into a nation that likes excesses. We all should learn how to live according to our needs and means, in line with the teachings of our religion,” he wrote.

Comments

2 Comments

Show

Michel Sabbagh

Aug 9, 2607 8:15

This is getting ridiculous. Why punish those who can't finish up their meal when they can't predict its portion size? A better way to 'penalize' patrons is by strongly recommending them to take leftovers with them. That way, no one's complaining: the restaurant owners won't have to worry about food being wasted and the patrons can do whatever they want with their food at home.

hassan

Aug 9, 2607 8:15

Dont make it an issue, Its very simple. take the excess food with you home. I also agree with the guy - they are charging for food left in plate but where is that food going, and where is all the food left at the end of the day going. IF you are talking about islam then please talk in every aspect. where is the excess food left at the end of the day going? If its going to charity then what is the point of charging customers?

hassan

Aug 9, 2607 8:15

Dont make it an issue, Its very simple. take the excess food with you home. I also agree with the guy - they are charging for food left in plate but where is that food going, and where is all the food left at the end of the day going. IF you are talking about islam then please talk in every aspect. where is the excess food left at the end of the day going? If its going to charity then what is the point of charging customers?

Michel Sabbagh

Aug 9, 2607 8:15

This is getting ridiculous. Why punish those who can't finish up their meal when they can't predict its portion size? A better way to 'penalize' patrons is by strongly recommending them to take leftovers with them. That way, no one's complaining: the restaurant owners won't have to worry about food being wasted and the patrons can do whatever they want with their food at home.

filed under

Latest Comment

This is getting ridiculous. Why punish those who can't finish up their meal when they can't predict its portion size? A better way to 'penalize' patrons is by strongly recommending them to take leftovers with them. That way, no one's complaining: the restaurant owners won't have to worry about food being wasted and the patrons can do whatever they want with their food at home.

Recommended For You

MY GULF NEWS

GulfNews.com is the most widely read newspaper, and online site in English in the Middle East. With a daily BPA audited paid circulation of over 108,000, and an online audience of 3.5 million uniques every month, it is your go to source for information on the region. Sign up below to begin personalising your experience